Leak Detection Sensor with Surrounding Emitters and Curved Housing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional leak detecting sensors for chemical liquids injected into blood vessels are ineffective due to misalignment of light-emitting and light-receiving elements, susceptibility to external light, and hygienic issues with concave contact surfaces, leading to unreliable leak detection.
Innovation Solution
A leak detecting sensor with multiple light-emitting elements surrounding a single light-receiving element, housed in a domical structure with light-transmitting members in the contact surface to prevent external light interference and foreign matter accumulation, ensuring stable and flexible detection regardless of sensor orientation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a pair of light-emitting element and light-receiving element are placed side by side in the sensor head, then the sensor structure is simple, but the light irradiation range of the light-emitting element does not coincide with the light reception range of the light-receiving element, causing unreliable leak detection
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the light-emitting function into multiple separate light-emitting elements arranged around the light-receiving element. This segmentation allows each light-emitting element to target specific areas, ensuring that the light irradiation ranges coincide with the light reception range of the central light-receiving element, thereby improving leak detection reliability while maintaining relatively simple structure
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs an asymmetric arrangement where multiple light-emitting elements are positioned around the periphery while the light-receiving element is located at the center. This asymmetric configuration optimizes the optical path geometry to ensure that light from each emitting element reaches the receiving element through the detection area, resolving the misalignment issue between irradiation and reception ranges
2Stability of the object's composition
If the sensor head is fixed securely to the patient, then the sensor position is stable, but if the patient moves during injection, part of the contact surface may be raised from the patient, causing external light to enter and prevent correct leak detection results
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs the contact surface of the sensor head with a domical (curved) shape rather than a flat surface. This curvature allows the sensor to accommodate patient movement and maintain intimate contact over the detection area. The curved surface ensures that even when the patient moves, the sensor remains conformally attached, preventing gaps that would allow external light to enter and interfere with detection
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a two-dimensional flat contact surface to a three-dimensional domical surface. This dimensional change allows the sensor to adapt to the curved contours of the patient's body and maintain stable contact during movement, effectively preventing external light interference while preserving position stability
3Illumination intensity
If the opening portion for light incidence and exit is formed in the contact surface, then light can pass through, but a concave portion is created where chemical liquid can enter and accumulate, causing hygiene issues and light scattering that reduces detection sensitivity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a light-transmitting member as an intermediary substance that fills the opening portion in the contact surface. This member allows light to pass through while preventing chemical liquid from entering the concave portion. The light-transmitting member acts as a mediator that simultaneously satisfies the optical transmission requirement and the hygiene/detection sensitivity requirement by blocking liquid accumulation
Solution Approach 2:
The light-transmitting member functions as a thin film or flexible sealing layer that covers the opening portion. This film allows optical transmission while creating a barrier against chemical liquid penetration. The flexible nature of this layer enables it to conform to the domical contact surface while maintaining the seal that prevents liquid accumulation and light scattering
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution enables reliable detection of chemical liquid leaks without orientation dependence and reduces sensitivity loss from external light or foreign matter, providing stable and easy-to-clean contact surfaces for improved accuracy.
Implementation Method 1
the light-emitting element and the light-receiving element are placed side by side so that the light-emitting element within the housing in intimate contact with the body surface of the patient emits light, the emitted light is reflected in the body (under the skin) of the patient, and the reflected light is received by the light-receiving element
Data Source
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AI summary
To provide a leak detecting sensor capable of favorably detecting a leak of a chemical liquid regardless of orientation in fixing to a patient. The leak detecting sensor has a plurality of light-emitting elements 11 each emitting light to be applied to the patient, and a single light-receiving element receiving the light emitted by the plurality of light-emitting elements and reflected by the patient. The plurality of light-emitting elements are placed to surround the single light-receiving element.